Car protector



Nov. 2, 1937.

C. W. HUTCHINSON CAR PROTECTOR Filed March 25, 1956 Fle iii? 23 .D Y 2624 3 :5? {I6 M L 33 323l3O UH INVENTOR CHARLES W. HUTCHINSON BY 1/ HATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention appertains to canopies, and other similar temporaryshelters, and has for one of its primary objects the provision of novelmeans for carrying and supporting a protecting cover, whereby suchcovering can be readily and quickly moved over the place or object to beprotected, or back in a folded compact condition out of the way.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a novel device forprotecting automobiles against the elements when the same are parkedout-of-doors, embodying a swinging frame carrying a roller on which acanvas or like covering is normally wound, the frame being movabletowardand away from the vehicle so that the covering can be pulled overthe top of the vehicle from the roller. A further object of my inventionis the provision of a device particularly adapted for use in open airautomobile parking stations, embodying a support adapted to be carriedby a standard or wall, on which is rockably mounted a swinging framecarrying a projecting apron for the hood of an automobile, and a canvascovering movable over the top of the automobile and attachable to therear bumper thereof, or any other convenient place.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of novelmeans under the control of an operator for holding the swinging frame inits operative position toward and over the hood of an automobile, or ina raised, elevated position out of the way.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved deviceof the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, onethat will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placedupon the market and installed at a small cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which drawing:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device, showing the same inits operative position over an automobile, parts of the device beingshown broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of my improved device, showingthe same in its lowered position, with parts thereof broken away and insection.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through myimproved device, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view taken substantially on the line 4-3of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating themeans employed for holding the operating crank for the roller in alocked position. 7

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of my improved device, showinga slightly modified form thereof.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the similar views, the letter Dgenerally indicates my improved device, which can be utilized forprotecting the finish of an automobile A from the elements.

The automobile A forms no part of my present invention, and has beenmerely shown to illustrate one use to which my invention may be put. Theautomobile may be of any make, and includes the usual body It], havingthe rear bumper II.

My improved device D embodies a housing or casing I2, which can besecured to or formed on a supporting standard or pedestal, or againstthe wall I 3 of a house, or the like. The casing l2 may be formed frommetal, and includes the backplate l4 and side walls IS. The back-plate[4 receives the supporting bolts IS. The side walls I5 of the casingcarry suitable bearings I! for the main supporting shaft l8.

Rigidly secured to the terminals of the shaft l 8 are outwardlyextending arms l9. The arms l9 have their outer ends connected by a rod20, and the shaft l8, the arms 19, and the rod 20 constitute a swingingframe, the purpose of which will be later set forth. The canvas or likeapron 2| has its forward end secured to the rod 20, and the longitudinaledges of the apron are connected to the side bars or arms l9 by means oflacing 22.

A rotatable drum or roller 23 is carried by the side bars or arms [9adjacent to the outer ends thereof, and this drum or roller has normallywound thereon a flexible protecting covering 24, which can be formedfrom canvas, or the like. The outer end of the canvas 24 can carry tiestraps 25, the purpose of which will also be later set forth.

In order to hold the frame in a raised elevated position out of the way,or in a swung down position, I rigidly mount within the casing l2 aratchet wheel 26. This ratchet wheel 26 can be rigidly secured to asupporting bracket 21 carried by the casing. The shaft l8 may extendthrough the ratchet wheel, and has formed thereon or secured thereto ayoke 28. Rotatably extending through the yoke 28 and the casing I2 is arock shaft 29, and this rock shaft carries a pawl or dog 30 for engagingthe ratchet wheel. In order to rock the shaft 29, and actuate the pawl30 from either side of the frame, the opposite ends of the rock shaftcan have secured thereto crank arms 3|. These crank arms 3| areconnected by means of links 32 with pivoted operating handles 33 mountedon the side arms 59. Obviously by rocking the handle 33 the dog or pawl30 can be moved away from the ratchet Wheel 36.

As stated, the device D is particularly adapted for use in protectingautomobiles from the .elements when the same are parked in the open, andin use of my invention the automobile A can be driven in close proximityto the housing l2. The operator by releasing the pawl 39 can swing theframe downwardly over the hood of the automobile, and the frame can beheld in such position upon release of the pawl 36. The canvas apron 2|carried by the frame will protect the hood of the automobile, and thecanvas covering it can be pulled from off of the roller and over the topof the automobile. The straps 25 can be firmly secured to the bumper I iof the automobile, or at any other convenient point.

The roller 23 can be provided with an operating crank 34 so as tofacilitate the winding of the canvas on the roller, and the crank can belocked in an adjusted position through the use of a detent 36 slidablycarried by the crank handle. The detent'36 can be normally urged towardan arm 19 by means of a leaf spring 31, and the arm can be provided withkeeper openings 38 for receiving the detent.

Where the housing i2 cannot be conveniently attached to the side of abuilding, I can provide a supporting standard 39, which can be anchoredin any preferred manner in the ground. The upper end of the standard cancarry a casing 10 for receiving the operating parts of my device, whichcan be the same as or similar to the parts heretofore described.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided anexceptionally simple and durable appliance for protecting the finish ofautomobiles when the same are parked out in the open air.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit orscope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A collapsible shelter for automobiles comprising a swinging framemovable toward and away from the hood of an automobile, a canvas aproncarried by said frame for the hood, releasable means for holding theframe in an adjusted position, a roller carried by the outer end of theframe, and a canvas covering normally Wound on said roller adapted to bemoved over the top of an automobile.

2. A collapsible shelter for automobiles comprising a swinging framemovable toward and away from the hood of an automobile, a canvas aproncarried by said support movable over the hood of an automobile drivenadjacent to said support, means for holding the frame in an adjustedposition over the hood of an automobile, a protecting apron carried bythe support for the automobile hood, a rotatable roller carried by theouter end of the frame, a protecting cover for the body of theautomobile normally wound upon said roller, and means for rotating theroller.

3. A collapsible shelter for automobiles comprising a casing supportedin an elevated position, a main shaft roltatably carried by the casing,side arms rigidly secured to the main shaft, a projecting apron carriedby the side arms for the hood of an automobile, a rotatable rollercarried by the outer ends of the side arms, a canvas covering for thebody of the automobile normally wound upon said roller, means forrotating said roller, a ratchet wheel rigidly secured in the casing, arock shaft carried by said arms,

a dog mounted on the rock shaft movable into CHARLES W. HUTCHINSON.

